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RAM for 13-inch MacBook Pro - 8 GB prices, etc.


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RAM for 13-inch MacBook Pro - 8 GB prices, etc.
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Dorian Gray
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Paris, France
 
2009-11-07, 12:07

Hello all,

I have the still-current "low-end" 13-inch MacBook Pro with the default 2 GB of RAM. For what I do (nothing terribly demanding, but large photos are often involved) I seem to run out of memory more frequently than I did with my PowerBook, which had just 1.25 GB of RAM. That's probably partially because the MBP's graphics processor "siphons off memory from system-level RAM" , and partially because Snow Leopard and its 64-bit apps are definitely bigger memory hogs than PowerPC Tiger.

The memory problem is quite acute: when I'm doing something that would be processor-intensive, I'm rarely processor-bound. Usually the very fast processor is twiddling its thumbs around 20%, with the slow hard drive working overtime.

I knew I'd want more memory when I got this notebook, but I haven't quite been able to pull the trigger. It seems wasteful to buy 4 GB of RAM now (throwing out the 2 GB currently in the machine), and then get 8 GB sometime in the future (throwing out the 4 GB then). So I've been hanging on with 2 GB and hoping for price drops on the 8 GB kits.

Here are current prices, including taxes, from Crucial France:

4 GB kit (2 GB x 2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500: 77.73 euros
8 GB Kit (4 GB x 2), 204-pin SODIMM, DDR3 PC3-8500: 485.56 euros

There are cheaper options elsewhere, but not by much.

I can't afford almost 500 euros for memory I don't even strictly need today. So my question is, when will prices come down to, say, 200 euros for the 8 GB kit? Are RAM prices in any way predictable? What would you do in my situation?
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psmith2.0
Mr. Vieira
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
 
2009-11-07, 12:10

I'm not sure how one would/could predict that, as it just seems so random and arbitrary (RAM prices). If you're suffering now (bogging down, losing time, etc.), I'd go ahead and get the 4GB. You'll see an immediate improvement, and that buys you time (what if it took another 18-24 months for 8GB to come down to that 200 range? You'll be miserable during all that).

If I were in your shoes and faced with this exact situation, I'd definitely pull the trigger on that 4GB now...and worry about the 8GB later.

I see 8GB for the 13" MacBook Pro for US $499. That converts to 336.90 euros (if I'm doing that right, or if it even works that way). That's almost halfway between 200-500 euros. Again, if I'm reading that right (and if they even sell/ship outside the U.S...I don't have much experience with currency conversion or international sales and shipping).

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other.../8566DDR3S8GP/

They list a number for "international" sales: 815-338-8658
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PB PM
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2009-11-07, 12:13

Dorian, I can tell you from experience that 4GBs is a good balance with that machine, even if you work working with RAW files, but 8GB is just way to expensive right now, which is why I opted for 4GBs in my 13" MBP. The difference between 2GB and 4GBs is substantial when you are working with photos. Sure it peaks out still, but far less often, and the reality is you can never have enough RAM! Prices for 4GB DDR3 sticks may not fall for some time, as RAM prices have actually gone up this year, rather than down.
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Dorian Gray
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Join Date: May 2005
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2009-11-09, 19:42

Thanks for your thoughts, guys.

I'd perhaps be interested in shipping the 8 GB kit from the States if it worked out to 200 euros. But it's ~340 euros before shipping and import duties. That's just too expensive for me. (Even 200 would be pushing it, to be honest.)

I've been thinking: my Mac uses about 1 GB of RAM for the OS, the video memory, and Safari (at least before I go tab-crazy). So that leaves me with about 1 GB for doing things. Upgrading to 4 GB would triple the "available" memory, so to speak. So on reflection I think that would really be quite enough for me for the foreseeable future.

If I pay ~80 euros for 4 GB now, though, that means I'm gonna have to wait for 8 GB to hit 120 euros (200 minus 80). That might take a while.

I think I'll keep an eye on www.crucial.com/fr and buy a 4 GB kit the next time the price changes.
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psmith2.0
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
 
2009-11-09, 19:47

That's a good way of looking at it...you're tripling your overhead/play room. 4GB should be quite nice. And then you've got comfortable time to wait and watch what happens on the 8GB front. And if that takes another year or two, no big deal...you're doing okay in the meantime.

I think I would like to take my iMac from 3GB to 4GB at some point. That odd number just bugs me...

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Dorian Gray
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2009-11-25, 19:36

The price did change. It went from €77.73 to €90.88. Should have bought it a couple of weeks ago.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pscates2.0 View Post
I think I would like to take my iMac from 3GB to 4GB at some point. That odd number just bugs me...
That's a good reason.
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PB PM
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2009-11-25, 20:07

It may sound silly, but even 3-4GB makes a difference. My old MBP had 3GBs (its max) and the difference in photo editing between that 3GB-4GB is often the difference between the system bogging down or not.
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Dorian Gray
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2010-02-25, 17:03

Bump.

Quote:
Originally Posted by PB PM View Post
Prices for 4GB DDR3 sticks may not fall for some time, as RAM prices have actually gone up this year, rather than down.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dorian Gray View Post
The price did change. It went from €77.73 to €90.88. Should have bought it a couple of weeks ago.
I'm still waiting for that price drop and it went up again! It's now €102.84. At this point I'm willing to concede you had a good point about not waiting for price drops, PB PM.
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PB PM
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2010-02-25, 17:09

Yup, RAM prices are going up, because sales have fallen off. The chip makers are also using new processes (small dies), which means prices will continue to go up for a while.
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Luca
ಠ_ರೃ
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2010-02-25, 17:09

Man, I noticed this too. I haven't looked at computer parts for a while but DDR2 is like twice as expensive as when I built my current PC! Sort of wish I had picked up more, although I'm not sure how much better 8 GB is than 6 GB. And forget 4 GB DIMMs, even for a desktop. 2x4 GB DDR2 kits are $200+.
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PB PM
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2010-02-25, 17:12

Its funny, but Apple RAM price upgrades don't look too bad the way prices are now. In some cases it is actually cheaper to buy the upgrade (BTO for new machines) from Apple than getting it yourself! *** ducks for cover ***
  quote
Luca
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2010-02-25, 17:39

Quote:
Originally Posted by PB PM View Post
Its funny, but Apple RAM price upgrades don't look too bad the way prices are now. In some cases it is actually cheaper to buy the upgrade (BTO for new machines) from Apple than getting it yourself! *** ducks for cover ***
A broken clock is still correct twice a day.
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Dorian Gray
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Paris, France
 
2010-09-08, 14:38

Night of the living thread.

My MacBook Pro is now over a year old and still chugging along with 2 GB of memory. It's driving me crazy. Somebody make me buy RAM, please.

Here's a summary of the Crucial France prices over time, from earlier in this thread:

7th November 2009:
4 GB kit: 77.73 euros
8 GB kit: 485.56 euros

26th November 2009:
4 GB kit: 90.88 euros

25th February 2010:
4 GB kit: 102.84 euros

8th September 2010:
4 GB kit: 88.49 euros
8 GB kit: 242.78 euros

So the original price of 77.73 euros for the 4 GB kit never returned. In an eerie coincidence (?), the price of the 8 GB kit precisely halved, right down to the last cent! But it's still a little more than the 200 euros I said I'd be willing to pay.

However, www.materiel.net are selling slightly faster G.Skill memory in an 8 GB kit for 189.89 euros. I believe this would also work in my 13-inch mid-2009 MacBook Pro.

Question: the product photo shows modules with tightly packed, doubled-up chips. Does this suggest they're using an older process node that's likely to draw more power?

Anyone use G.Skill memory in their Mac?

See you next year!
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Dorian Gray
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Join Date: May 2005
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2010-11-04, 17:25

7th November 2009:
8 GB kit: 485.56 euros

8th September 2010:
8 GB kit: 242.78 euros

Today on www.crucial.com/fr:



Good things come to those who wait?
  quote
Maciej
M AH - ch ain saw
 
Join Date: May 2004
 
2010-11-04, 17:45

Wowie! That's a steal compared to your previous quotes.
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remlemasi
Formerly “theelmerguy”
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Irvine, California
 
2010-11-04, 18:29

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226021

Mushkin 2 x 4GB --- $109.99 after MIR!!! So tempted.

NOTE: Last day today!!! Should I do it? How much could I sell my Crucial 2 x 2GB kit for? How long would you guys fathom it'll take for normal prices to drop below this $110 mark?

Last edited by remlemasi : 2010-11-04 at 18:31. Reason: Added note.
  quote
709
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Purgatory
 
2010-11-04, 18:42

If anything, this only pisses me off more at Apple's "2GB is enough" bullshit. For such a progressive company they've always always found ways to just be fucking idiots in the most mundane and obvious of things.

So it goes.
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PB PM
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2010-11-05, 02:14

I got 2 4GB sticks for $185 Cdn a few weeks ago, same Mushkin sticks, but of course they are always more expensive here.
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chucker
 
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2010-11-05, 02:20

My MBP (early 2010) currently has 2x2GB, DDR3, at 1067 MHz. I see that I can get 2x4GB, also DDR3, at either 1067 or 1333 MHz for around 120€. Would the higher clock rate benefit me at all, or can the chipset not handle that?
  quote
Dorian Gray
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2010-11-05, 02:25

Quote:
Originally Posted by chucker View Post
My MBP (early 2010) currently has 2x2GB, DDR3, at 1067 MHz. I see that I can get 2x4GB, also DDR3, at either 1067 or 1333 MHz for around 120€. Would the higher clock rate benefit me at all, or can the chipset not handle that?
I don't know for sure, but when I looked into that some people were reporting that the chipset detects the higher memory speed and runs at that speed, leading to stability issues. The internet being the internet, they may be talking nonsense - but I'd want to be pretty sure it runs at 1067 MHz before buying faster RAM.
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PB PM
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2010-11-05, 02:28

I believe that only the newest generation MBPs use the 1333Mhz sticks.
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Maciej
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2010-11-05, 11:06

I bought my MBP on August 24th and it has 1067MHz sticks.
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PB PM
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2010-11-05, 13:42

Oh, looks like it is only the current iMacs that use 1333Mhz sticks.
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chucker
 
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2010-11-05, 13:52

So, can anyone answer if 1333MHz would work, and if so, if they would boost performance?
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FFL
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Join Date: May 2004
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2010-11-05, 16:31

Quote:
Originally Posted by chucker View Post
So, can anyone answer if 1333MHz would work, and if so, if they would boost performance?
I'm not absolutely positive, but I'm fairly sure that's a "no".
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chucker
 
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2010-11-05, 16:38

Yeah, that's what I fear. Seems the Intel page also says 1066 is the max.
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Maciej
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Join Date: May 2004
 
2010-11-05, 23:18

I need to buy some RAM for my dad, what do you guys know about G.Skill?
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PB PM
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2010-11-06, 02:40

G.Skill is okay, just not the "value" stuff.
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remlemasi
Formerly “theelmerguy”
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Irvine, California
 
2010-12-08, 21:12

DDR3 prices are really, really low right now! Get 'em while you can!

Crucial 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Laptop Memory Model CT51264BC1067 - $50.99 (as of 8-Dec.)

It went out-of-stock for a few days and I thought I'd missed it, but it came back today... $101.98 for 8GB (2 x 4GB) of Crucial is amazing! Interestingly, the kit with two of those modules is still $156.99 on newegg.

Anyway, just thought I'd fill you guys in. Some memory trackers are predicting the prices to rise again in 2011. This is pretty much on par with the over-supply prices of about two years ago, when I got a 4GB kit (2 x 2GB) for $55 (it's gone up to $110 in those two years and is now sitting pretty at $64).
  quote
turtle
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2010-12-08, 22:04

Is PC3 8500 the best RAM for the current MBP? Would faster RAM be better or even noticeable?

Edit: Just read the the read. Never mind.
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